This list of birds of Ohio includes species documented in the U.S. state of Ohio and accepted by Ohio Bird Records Committee (OBRC). As of July 2026, there were 456 species on the official list. Of them, 193 have been documented as breeding in the state,Rodewald, Paul C., Matthew B. Shumar, Aaron T. Boone, David L. Slager, and Jim McCormac, editors. The Second Atlas of Breeding Birds in Ohio. University Park, The Pennsylvania State University Press, 2016. and 129 are review species as defined below. Eight species found in Ohio have been introduced to North America. Two species on the list are extinct, two more might be, and four have been extirpated. Birds that are considered probable escapees, although they may have been sighted flying free, are not included.
This list is presented in the taxonomic sequence of the Check-list of North and Middle American Birds, 7th edition through the 66th Supplement, published by the American Ornithological Society (AOS).Chesser, R. T., S. M. Billerman, K. J. Burns, C. Cicero, J. L. Dunn, B. E. Hernández-Baños, R. A. Jiménez, O. Johnson, N. A. Mason, and P. C. Rasmussen. 2025. Check-list of North American Birds (online). American Ornithological Society. https://checklist.americanornithology.org/taxa/ retrieved 5 September 2025 Common and scientific names are also those of the Check-list, except that the common names of families are from the Clements taxonomy because the AOS list does not include them.Clements, J. F., P. C. Rasmussen, T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, J. A. Gerbracht, D. Lepage, A. Spencer, S. M. Billerman, B. L. Sullivan, M. Smith, and C. L. Wood. 2025. The eBird/Clements checklist of Birds of the World: v2025. Downloaded from https://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/ retrieved 3 November 2025
The following tags have been used to annotate some species:
(B) Breeding - species having a confirmed nest in modern times (R) Review list - species which have rarely occurred in Ohio and whose sightings "must be acceptably documented before adding them to the official record" per the OBRC (I) Introduced - a species established solely as result of direct or indirect human intervention (E) Extinct - a recent species that no longer exists
Ducks, geese, and waterfowl
Order: AnseriformesFamily: Anatidae
The family Anatidae includes the ducks and most duck-like waterfowl, such as geese and swans. These birds are adapted to an aquatic existence with webbed feet, bills which are flattened to a greater or lesser extent, and feathers that are excellent at shedding water due to special oils. Forty-three species have been recorded in Ohio.
Black-bellied whistling-duck, Dendrocygna autumnalis Fulvous whistling-duck, Dendrocygna bicolor (R) Snow goose, Anser caerulescens Ross's goose, Anser rossii Greater white-fronted goose, Anser albifrons Brant, Branta bernicla Cackling goose, Branta hutchinsii Canada goose, Branta canadensis (B) Mute swan, Cygnus olor (I) (B) Trumpeter swan, Cygnus buccinator (B) Tundra swan, Cygnus columbianus Wood duck, Aix sponsa (B) Garganey, Spatula querquedula (R) Blue-winged teal, Spatula discors (B) Cinnamon teal, Spatula cyanoptera (R) Northern shoveler, Spatula clypeata (B) Gadwall, Mareca strepera Eurasian wigeon, Mareca penelope American wigeon, Mareca americana Mallard, Anas platyrhynchos (B) American black duck, Anas rubripes Northern pintail, Anas acuta (B) Green-winged teal, Anas crecca (B) Canvasback, Aythya valisineria (B) Redhead, Aythya americana (B) Ring-necked duck, Aythya collaris Tufted duck, Aythya fuligula (R) Greater scaup, Aythya marila Lesser scaup, Aythya affinis (B) King eider, Somateria spectabilis (R) Common eider, Somateria mollissima (R) Harlequin duck, Histrionicus histrionicus Surf scoter, Melanitta perspicillata White-winged scoter, Melanitta deglandi Black scoter, Melanitta americana Long-tailed duck, Clangula hyemalis Bufflehead, Bucephala albeola Common goldeneye, Bucephala clangula Barrow's goldeneye, Bucephala islandica (R) Hooded merganser, Lophodytes cucullatus (B) Common merganser, Mergus merganser (B) Red-breasted merganser, Mergus serrator Ruddy duck, Oxyura jamaicensis (B)
New World quail Order: GalliformesFamily: Odontophoridae
The New World quails are small, plump terrestrial birds only distantly related to the quails of the Old World, but named for their similar appearance and habits. One species has been recorded in Ohio.
Northern bobwhite, Colinus virginianus (B)
Pheasants, grouse, and allies
Order: GalliformesFamily: Phasianidae
Phasianidae consists of the pheasants and their allies. These are terrestrial species, variable in size but generally plump with broad relatively short wings. Many species are gamebirds or have been domesticated as a food source for humans. Five species have been recorded in Ohio.
Wild turkey, Meleagris gallopavo (B) Ruffed grouse, Bonasa umbellus (B) Greater prairie-chicken, Tympanuchus cupido (extirpated) Gray partridge, Perdix perdix (I) (extirpated) Ring-necked pheasant, Phasianus colchicus (I) (B)
Flamingoes Order: PhoenicopteriformesFamily: Phoenicopteridae
Flamingoes are gregarious wading birds, usually tall, found in both the Western and Eastern Hemispheres. Flamingos filter-feed on shellfish and algae. Their oddly shaped beaks are adapted to separate mud and silt from the food they consume and, uniquely, are used upside-down. One species has been recorded in Ohio.
American flamingo, Phoenicopterus ruber (R)
Grebes
Order: PodicipediformesFamily: Podicipedidae
Grebes are small to medium-large freshwater diving birds. They have lobed toes and are excellent swimmers and divers. However, they have their feet placed far back on the body, making them quite ungainly on land. Five species have been recorded in Ohio.
Pied-billed grebe, Podilymbus podiceps (B) Horned grebe, Podiceps auritus Red-necked grebe, Podiceps grisegena Eared grebe, Podiceps nigricollis Western grebe, Aechmorphorus occidentalis (R)
Pigeons and doves
Order: ColumbiformesFamily: Columbidae
Pigeons and doves are stout-bodied birds with short necks and short slender bills with a fleshy cere. Six species have been recorded in Ohio.
Common ground dove, Columbina passerina (R) White-winged dove, Zenaida asiatica Mourning dove, Zenaida macroura (B) Passenger pigeon, Ectopistes migratorius (E) Eurasian collared-dove, Streptopelia decaocto (I)(B) Rock pigeon, Columba livia (I)(B)
Cuckoos
Order: CuculiformesFamily: Cuculidae
The family Cuculidae includes cuckoos, roadrunners, and anis. These birds are of variable size with slender bodies, long tails, and strong legs. The Old World cuckoos are brood parasites. Four species have been recorded in Ohio.
Smooth-billed ani, Crotophaga ani (R) Groove-billed ani, Crotophaga sulcirostris (R) Yellow-billed cuckoo, Coccyzus americanus (B) Black-billed cuckoo, Coccyzus erythropthalmus (B)
Nightjars and allies
Order: CaprimulgiformesFamily: Caprimulgidae
Nightjars are medium-sized nocturnal birds that usually nest on the ground. They have long wings, short legs, and very short bills. Most have small feet, of little use for walking, and long pointed wings. Their soft plumage is cryptically colored to resemble bark or leaves. Three species have been recorded in Ohio.
Common nighthawk, Chordeiles minor (B) Chuck-will's-widow, Antrostomus carolinensis (B) Eastern whip-poor-will, Antrostomus vociferus (B)
Swifts Order: ApodiformesFamily: Apodidae
The swifts are small birds which spend the majority of their lives flying. These birds have very short legs and never settle voluntarily on the ground, perching instead only on vertical surfaces. Many swifts have very long, swept-back wings which resemble a crescent or boomerang. Two species have been recorded in Ohio.
Chimney swift, Chaetura pelagica (B) White-throated swift, Aeronautes saxatalis (R)
Hummingbirds
Order: ApodiformesFamily: Trochilidae
Hummingbirds are small birds capable of hovering in mid-air due to the rapid flapping of their wings. They are the only birds that can fly backwards. Eight species have been recorded in Ohio.
Mexican violetear, Colibri thalassinus (R) Ruby-throated hummingbird, Archilochus colubris (B) Black-chinned hummingbird, Archilochus alexandri (R) Anna's hummingbird, Calypte anna (R) Calliope hummingbird, Selasphorus calliope (R) Rufous hummingbird, Selasphorus rufus Allen's hummingbird, Selasphorus sasin (R) Broad-billed hummingbird, Cynanthus latirostris (R)
Limpkin Order: GruiformesFamily: Aramidae
The limpkin is an odd bird that looks like a large rail, but is skeletally closer to the cranes. It is found in marshes with some trees or scrub in the Caribbean, South America, and southern Florida.
Limpkin, Aramus guarauna (R)
Cranes Order: GruiformesFamily: Gruidae
Cranes are large, long-legged, and long-necked birds. Unlike the similar-looking but unrelated herons, cranes fly with necks outstretched, not pulled back. Most have elaborate and noisy courting displays or "dances". Two species have been recorded in Ohio.
Sandhill crane, Antigone canadensis (B) Whooping crane, Grus americana (R)
Rails, gallinules, and coots
Order: GruiformesFamily: Rallidae
Rallidae is a large family of small to medium-sized birds which includes the rails, crakes, coots, and gallinules. The most typical family members occupy dense vegetation in damp environments near lakes, swamps, or rivers. In general they are shy and secretive birds, making them difficult to observe. Most species have strong legs and long toes which are well adapted to soft uneven surfaces. They tend to have short, rounded wings and tend to be weak fliers. Eight species have been recorded in Ohio.
King rail, Rallus elegans (B) Virginia rail, Rallus limicola (B) Sora, Porzana carolina (B) Common gallinule, Gallinula galeata (B) American coot, Fulica americana (B) Purple gallinule, Porphyrio martinicus (B) (R) Yellow rail, Coturnicops noveboracensis Black rail, Laterallus jamaicensis (R)
Stilts and avocets Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Recurvirostridae
Recurvirostridae is a family of large wading birds which includes the avocets and stilts. The avocets have long legs and long up-curved bills. The stilts have extremely long legs and long, thin, straight bills. Two species have been recorded in Ohio.
Black-necked stilt, Himantopus mexicanus (B) American avocet, Recurvirostra americana
Plovers and lapwings
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Charadriidae
The family Charadriidae includes the plovers, dotterels, and lapwings. They are small to medium-sized birds with compact bodies, short thick necks, and long, usually pointed, wings. They are found in open country worldwide, mostly in habitats near water. Eight species have been recorded in Ohio.
Black-bellied plover, Pluvialis squatarola American golden-plover, Pluvialis dominica Killdeer, Charadrius vociferus (B) Semipalmated plover, Charadrius semipalmatus Piping plover, Charadrius melodus Northern lapwing, Vanellus vanellus (R) Wilson's plover, Charadrius wilsonia (R) Snowy plover, Charadrius nivosus (R)
Sandpipers and allies
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Scolopacidae
Scolopacidae is a large diverse family of small to medium-sized shorebirds including the sandpipers, curlews, godwits, shanks, tattlers, woodcocks, snipes, dowitchers, and phalaropes. The majority of these species eat small invertebrates picked out of the mud or soil. Different lengths of legs and bills enable multiple species to feed in the same habitat, particularly on the coast, without direct competition for food. Thirty-eight species have been recorded in Ohio.
Upland sandpiper, Bartramia longicauda (B) Whimbrel, Numenius phaeopus Eskimo curlew, Numenius borealis (E?) (R) Long-billed curlew, Numenius americanus (R) Hudsonian godwit, Limosa haemastica Marbled godwit, Limosa fedoa Ruddy turnstone, Arenaria interpres Red knot, Calidris canutus Ruff, Calidris pugnax Sharp-tailed sandpiper, Calidris acuminata (R)